Solenoid powered motor



Jan. 14, 195s c. E. ERIE SOLENOID POWERED MOTOR Fil'ed Aug. 12, 1954 4. A 7 I 2 1| .bv/m lvm w. C 6 n n M /w l f l, 4 E Lf. T B nl@ Mw 4.. 2 ..||h-n l 5 2 5 5 .I l |.D 32M I2 9 m 3 B 8 4. 3 3 .l 8 5 .3 7|. C v n z 3 4 1 5 A/m,2 so 5 e u 2 E 4 5 B O L 9 v4 Aw 2 0 .v D 6 5A 2|||. H 2 24. 2 \2 l l w Il: 1- I Il 3 5% l l 2;, H ..11 l 42 43 3 FlG.l

Dn O T N E V N United States Patent() SOLENOID POWERED MOTOR Charles E. Erie, Mobile, Ala.

Application August 12, 1954, Serial No. 449,483

2 Claims. (Cl. 310-23) The present invention relates to a new improvement in electric motors and forwards as its main object and purpose means whereby the conventional wheel and shaft is modified to allow power to be delivered constantly while the current used to turn the said wheel and shaft is furnished at intervals to the end that only a small portion of current is required in proportion to that required for the conventional electric motors.

The invention as shown in the drawings is designed primarily for small toys, advertising signs, or other objects requiring a small amount of power, however, the principle involved would remain the same for larger electric motors, and with the application of conventional parts such as bearings, heavier supports, larger coils, heavier power source, etc. the larger electric motors would prove as efficient as the small one depicted herein. Motors of this type would be excellent for lawn mowers, outboard motors, etc.

Electric motors of this type with more than one coil cylinder could be used to drive heavy equipment such as are now powered by diesel electric engines.

One of the most important advantages forwarded by this new invention resides in the simplicity of construction. For toys, this motor could be built primarily of plastic or light weight aluminum with the exception of the coil, part -or all of the piston, the co-nductor parts and the wires. In this instance a light weight, low cost electric motor could be had. Very little precision work would be required. For motors to be used in heavier work metal, such as steel, could be used to form the whole motor, but even then the cost would remain cornparatively low because of the fact that very few parts require precision work.

Themotor shown in the drawing may be operated from a flash light battery and can use either A. C. or D. C. current. By installing a rheostat this new motor may be caused to run faster or slower as desired.

The motor shown in the drawings allows an axial movement of the coil cylinder thus eliminating the need for a connecting rod, however, the coil cylinder could be stationary and a connecting rod used instead of the type shown.

Due to the intermittent usage of electric current to operate this new motor a denite saving in electricity is had. In the case of the use of a battery the usable life would be greatly prolonged.

With these and other advantages to be forwarded as we proceed I refer to the drawing in which like parts are denoted by the same reference characters throughout the several views, whereas:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the new invention in electric motors.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view as taken at 3--3 in Figure l, showing more particularly the connection of the wheel to the shaft and the piston rod.

Figure 4 is a sectional view as taken at 4-4 in Figure 1 Y showing more particularly the structure of the coil "ice cylinder and its connection to the frame to allow the axial movement thereof.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the roller connectors as taken at 5-5 in Figure l.

Figure 6 is a sectional view as taken at 6 6 in Figure 5, showing more particularly the construction of the roller connectors.

Figure 7 is a sectional view as taken at 7-7 in Figure l showing the contact pad used to start the motor.

Figure 8 is an end view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the operating fork, showing more particularly the operating mechanism thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawing:

11 designates the base upon which is welded or otherwise attached a frame 12, said frame provided with two upright arms 12A and 12B having a brace rod 12C. A second support 13 is provided with two upright arms 13A and 13B, this support also being welded or otherwise attached to the base 11. A shaft 14 is rotatably attached to the upright arms 12A and 12B and is provided with crimps or the like 15 to prevent its removal therefrom. Welded or otherwise attached to the shaft 14 is a y wheel16.

Also rotatably attached to the upright arms 12A and 12B is a second shaft 17 provided with crimps or the like 18 to prevent its removal therefrom. This shaft 17 is welded or otherwise firmly attached to a clamp band 19 which encases and holds firmly a coil cylinder 20. As seen more particularly in Figure 4, the clamp band 19 is insulated from the coil cylinder 20 as indicated by the numeral 21.

A piston rod 22 is provided within the coil cylinder 20. This piston rod may be made of ferrous or non-ferrous metal or of any non-conductive material such as plastic, but if non-ferrous metal is used the piston rod 22 must be provided with a ferrous metal sleeve 23 as shown in Figure 4. This piston rod 22 is bent at point 22A and is rotatably attached to the flywheel 16 as shown more clearly in Figure 3. Crimps 24 on the rod 22 prevent it removal from the fly wheel 16.

Attached within the upright arms 13A and 13B is an operating fork 25 provided with a pin 26 which may be flattened on each end to prevent its removal from the upright arms 13A and 13B, thus providing an attaching means therefor in a manner to allow the fork 25 to be moved in the directions as indicated by the arrows 25C and 25D when the handle 42 is moved upward or downward. This fork 25 is provided with arms 25A and 25B, having attached thereon, as seen more particularly in Figures 5 and 6, contact rollers or brushes 28 rotatably attached to an L-shaped rod 29 which is attached to the arms 25A or 25B by means of nuts 30, 31, and 32. Insulation is provided around the rods 29 to prevent their contact with the arms 25A and 25B. The unattached ends of the rods 29 are flattened or otherwise provided with means to prevent the removal of the contact rollers 28A, 28B, 28C, and 28D. Insulation indicated by numeral 33.

The operation of this fork 25 is shown more clearly in Figure 9. A spring 50 is attached in any acceptacle manner within the hole 43 placed in upright arms 13A and 13B, said hole also receiving a pin 26 which is attached to the fork 25. A second pin 44 is attached to the fork 25 at a point on the axis of the handle 42 to allow the pin 44 to be optionally placed between any two of the teeth 45A, 45B, 45C and 45D. These teeth are so positioned on the upright arm 13A or 13B, or both if desired, that when the pin 44 is placed between the teeth 45A and 45B the contact rollers 28A and 28B will contact the wheel 16. When the pin 44 is placed between the teeth 45C and 45D the contact rollers 28C and 28D will nazaten,

31 Contact the wheel 16, and if the pin 44 is placed between the teeth 44B and 44C none ofl the contact rollers will touch the wheel 16 and the7 rnotor will be in neutral.

Sirloe the wheelYV le is not balanced it. is possible that,

when in neutral it will stop in a position tha-e will, not` alf.v

low the Contact rollers. to touch the. conductor baud; 41, which attached in any approved manner tol a; part of the rim off the liv wheel. 1,6, thusv allowing. the motor; to.y feiaio in neutral To allow this newl motor to bostarted at any position a conductor pad 46 is attached to, the base 1.1 and a. ooarluotor, sasl, 4.1 is attached to, thounflsht arm 12B- As Seonimoro Clearly in Fleur-ost? and 8,. the com ductor pad 46, which is identical. to conductor pad 47, is. merelyV a, picco. of, oopnor or Similar Hosteria!k which, is attaohodfto the4 base.- 111.. (or iu. the oase of conductos had 47 tothe upright arm 12B) by means ofninsula news, bolts or tho like 4,8., Aa insulation parl 4124s provided to Completely,` insulate; the. conductor pads Sirio@ the currontmllst pass fromA our contact roller to the.y adaoent contact roller to. complete the: circuit thlls. centering theforroUS. metal. Sleeve 2.3y Withinl the ooila cylinder, the. oorltaot pad 46 or 47, as the .oase may be.. Serves this purpose when the handle 42 is, pushed in` thefdireotion ofy anos/42A. and movool to. allow the pin. 4410 be placed eithery bet-Weene they teeth. 45A and 45B or between the;

teeth 45C and/15D.y This push in, the direction ofarrow. 42A will allow one set of the contact rollers to touch, tho Contact pad adjacent to, them, denendi-nsA upon which set is` being utilized, andthe circuit:l will b e momentarily completed allowing. the` wheel.y 1.6, to. rotate, enough to. allow the Contact rollers. to` Contact the conductor band-e 41, The Spring Smashing. asainstthepnzofoausosthe pin 44, to be held in position; between the, desired,A teeth` when. the, handle; 42 released` and themotor will, o crate until the pin 44 is positioned in neutral, on ther switch Slisturned oft,

A battery 34 is. shownpositioned on.tlyiep-baselll` of the; invention towhich. are attachedl wires, 35,l 38 and` 39;;- wire 33 being attachedbetweenone,pole,34Bof thelbattory 34 andY tho top of the coil oylrdor'ltl audi having therein a switch 51.4 Wire 39 and wire 35.: are attacht-:ll

to pole 34A- ol4 the battery 34, wire39.. having itsotljrerv end attachedfto the contact rollerv4 28D whileA wire 35 has its other end attached to the contactmoller y28A,` Alwin: 36 is attached to the contact. roller 233, and ak wiret 40 is attached to the contact roller 2SC, both of these wires being attached to` a wire 37` which is4 also attached', to

thebottom of theycoil cylinderf20.

Actually two circuits are provided4 in3 this method Qf Wiring@ Tho first oiroult is providodobyfwiros 355.31675 and 38 when the Contact rollersfZA'and- 28B Contact; either the conductor pad 46 or, the. conductor band 41` The secondcircuitis providedby wires 39, 40, 3,7, and

38 when the contact rollers` 28Cl and ZSDcontactelthen the conductor pad 47- or the conductor handp4l.

Since electric current follows the path of least resistance the connection of Wires 36 and 4t),` to., the wire 37-` will in no way'effect the; operationiof the circuits in theproper manner. In like manner theN wheel 16v willA be,y

caused to move cloclivvisey as indicated by arrow 16A by the operation of the first circuitr described above, and

will move counter-clockwise as indicated by the, arrow,v

16B by the operation of; the second circuit` described above.

The wheely 16 isA madey of nonconductivematerial and istherefore notV a conductor of electric current.` To complete the-circuits provided by the wires mentioned above.

a band.41 of conductive-materi/al isattached to; approximately onevthirdof the, perimeteroflthelwheell. When theoontaotrollers 228A; andZBlouoh: the conductor band 41 a Completo Ciroltit is had; and; the. ferrous :fractal sleeve 2. or the' histoir; rorl; 2.2.5t betas; attlfaotedr by.: the, coil: 2.61 centered therein. This; causes thelwheel; 16; torrotate andy asthe contact rollers 28A andf 28B1` pass thel conductor band 41, the, circuit is broken ands momentum, together with the weight of the piston rod, carries the y wheel around until the contactv rollers 28A and 28B can again touch the conductor band 41 thereby again completing the circuit and starting the cycle over again. This causes the ily wheel to turn in the direction of arrow 16A. To allow the ily wheel 16 to rotate in the opposite direction the Contact rollers 28C and` 28D are caused to touch the conductor band 41 thus turning the wheel 16 in the direction of arrow'116B.;l

To describe the operation more concisely, the handle 42 is pushed in the direction of arrow 424A and moved either in theA direction olil anrow 42B. or 42C which will cause the proper set of contact rollers 28 to touch the conductor pad 46` or` 47* adjacent thereto thus completing the desired circuit. This will cause the coil 20 to be activated and will attract the ferrous metal sleeve 23 on the piston 22 centering it within the coil momentarily andl causing the; wheel 16 turn to the proper-position to allow thel Contact` rollers to, touchA the conductor band; 41, on thel wheel' 16,. The handle 42 is. only momentarily pushed, in the direction of arrow 42A and is released in` the positionw to allow the desire contact rollers to be utilized. When released, the; handle 42 will bev held inf Position through means, described above and the` in vention will remain in` continuous operation` until either: the` switchll is turnedloif or thehandle 42: is again adjusted either to neutral or to allow the. use oi the second set ofjcontact rollers 28. It isunderstood,I of course, that the proper proportions and positions between the variousr parts must be'had to allow the proper and eicient op, eration ofthe invention. It isalso understood, of cours,e that the parts used` to complete the circuits must be in sulated.l from the rest of the motor, especially if con; ductive material is usedtfor parts` which arenot;part ofthe circuits.

While I have disclosed herein the best form 0E theinvention known to meA at thepresent time I desireit: tov be understood that I reserve, the right to make alterar tionsandchanges insofar as such alterations and' changes are coveredby the appended claims.

l. I'nran` electric motor, a coil cylinder, saidcoil cylinder provided with4 a rotatable shaft attached to one sidev thereof, said shaft provided with supporting means, a, piston working Within said coil cylinder, said pistonicomf posed of non-conductive material but provided with a, Sleeve Qfconductive materialom apredeterrnined length of` said piston, a flywheel connected tosaid piston, said fly wheel composed of non-conductive material, a;thin:,laye r of conductive material attached to a predetermnedpon. tionofl the rimofsaidttly wheel, ashaft of' non-.conductive materialy rrnly, attached, within the center; ofsaid ly/y wheel, i means provided; to supportT said shaft, az semifcirf. cular shaped opezratingfork provided with atSllPPonL, beA ing attached movablyftherein, said semi-circulan shaped forlcpositioned to encase. but, not touch. one4 halfofithe` said ily wheel, eachend of said semi-circular, shaped fork. provided. with. two rollers ofy conductive material' at: tached adjacent one to the other but not in Contact there. with,` insulation means` provided between they said semicircular: shaped, forte` and the said rollers, means provided on the said lsernijc.rtlllar shaped forkto allowy it to. be.; moved closer to said tiy wheel, meansalsQ provided; tol allow the said rollers, on either endof the,- said semicircular shaped operating fork totouchthe rim. of; thesaid ily` wheel wheny desired, means also,v provided; to hold the said semi-circular shaped operatingffork, intende sitedy pOSltlOn, a battery, awire connecting one pole` of said battery to one end of the saidicoil.v cylinder.;r wires, connecting the,op;posiuepole of said; battery.` to one contact,- rollen on each4 and; of.A Said: semifcircular( shaped opera as l;. and: wires;v ooaoootinee the secondi oataotxl rollerv oneach end ofv said4 semilci'rcularf` shapedropefrating" fork; to ther` oppositev end o-f"said coil= from they end pero;4 vided i with the wire connecting thecoil and", thef battery;

and means provided whereby current is caused to activate the said coil through the contact of the said rollers on the conductor rim of the said y wheel to the end that the wheel rotates as to current is intermittently applied through the closed and opened circuits.

2. In an electric motor, a combination of parts made of non-conductive material comprising a base, supports, a fly wheel, a shaft, a piston, and a work-shaped operating bar, said electric motor also provided with a magnetic conductive part comprising a sleeve of predetermined length xedly mounted on said piston, conductive material parts consisting of a pad of predetermined length xedly attached on a portion of the circumferential edge of said fly wheel, two rollers separately attached at each end of said fork-shaped operating bar, a coil Xedly positioned within said coil cylinder, and wires connecting these conductive material parts together, one of said wires connecting the top of said coil to one wire of the power source, a second wire connecting the bottom of said coil to one of the two rollers on each end of said fork-shaped operating bar, a third wire connecting the second of the two said rollers at each end of the said fork-shaped operating bar to the second wire of the power source, means provided to allow the two rollers on one end of said fork-shaped operating bar to contact the pad of conductive material on the edge of said y wheel at a predetermined time and location of allow the Wheel to operate in a forward manner, means provided to allow the two rollers on the second end of said fork-shaped operating bar to contact the pad of conductive material on the edge of said y Wheel at a predetermined time and location to allow the fly wheel to operate in a reverse manner, the contact of said rollers with the pad of conductive material on the edge of said ily wheel closing the particular circuit involved, activating the coil and causing the sleeve of magnetic conductive material on said piston to be centered momentarily within the said coil, means provided to start the rotation of said iy wheel when the rollers on either end of the fork-shaped operating bar are not in contact with the conductive material pad afxed to the edge of said y wheel, and means also provided to stop said motor.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 323,652 Farmer Aug. 4, 1885 538,351 Sabin Apr. 30, 1895 1,291,819 Fogel Jan. 21, 1919 1,356,290 Kellum Oct, 19, 1920 1,721,447 Haney July 16, 1929 

